Digital Commons Network^™

My Ai Companion: An Examination Of The Removal Of Erotic Role Play From Replika Through User Discussion On Reddit, Chelsee M. Allen

Department of Sociology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The development of artificial intelligence (AI) software has expanded rapidly in recent years, and thus has emerged the importance of exploring human relationships with AI chatbots. Replika, an app which uses AI to mimic human conversation, removed a function called Erotic Role Play (ERP) that allowed for sexual conversation with users’ customizable chatbots in February of 2023. This exploratory qualitative study examines the aftermath of ERP’s removal through an analysis of user interactions on Reddit. Five overarching themes emerged through the analysis of top posts to a Replika-specific subreddit, encompassing topics around mental health, stigma, coping, sex work and gendered …

Phylogeny And Disparity Of Ammonoid Family Acanthoceratidae Over Ocean Anoxic Event 2, Lindsey Howard

Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The widespread use of genera as proxies for species in paleobiological studies might affect the results of these studies. Although most attention has been given to taxonomic diversity studies, this could also be true of disparity and phylogenetic studies. In particular, the assumption that particular character states truly diagnose all members of a genus might distort results. This study examines the disparity of Acanthoceratid ammonoids at both the generic and species level. 149 species from 42 genera were examined with 52 characters measured. Following the measurements, an inverse modeling simulation was run 100 times to generate a simulated phylogeny with …

Nonlocal Frameworks For Nonlinear Conservation Laws And Advection-Diffusion Processes, Anh Thuong Vo

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Conservation laws are fundamental principles that play an important role in modeling various phenomena in physics, chemistry, and biology. However, their limitations, such as the development of shocks despite smooth initial conditions, are well known. The nonlocal model framework can be used to overcome these challenges. Nonlocal frameworks utilize integral operators that mimic differential operators but also incorporate long-range interactions within a finite horizon. This approach not only allows for non-smooth solutions, but also provides flexibility in modeling different phenomena. This study investigates the convergence of nonlocal divergence operators, defined with a general flux density function, to their classical counterparts. …

Integrating Remote Sensing And Machine Learning To Determine Past, Current And Future Crop Water Use From The Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System, Moaz Ishag

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The agriculture sector is a significant consumer of water, and sustainable water use begins with monitoring irrigated land. Delineating irrigated land supports decision-makers and promotes the sustainable use of this crucial resource. This study focuses on the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System (NSAS), the largest aquifers in the world, which spans Egypt, Sudan, Libya, and Chad. The study aims to: 1) quantify the increase in irrigated hectares (both pivot and non-pivot) from 2000-2001 to 2023-2024; 2) identify major irrigated crop types and their water requirements; and 3) quantify groundwater crop water use from the NSAS using remote sensing via the Google …

Structural Analysis Of Dj-1 Glyoxalase Activity By Mix-And-Inject Serial Synchrotron Crystallography, Coleman Dolamore

Department of Biochemistry: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Observing enzyme structures while they are catalyzing a reaction has been a major goal of both enzymology and structural biology for decades. With the advent of time-resolved serial X-ray crystallography using X-ray free electron lasers (XFELs) and synchrotron sources, enzyme reactions can be monitored in real time in crystallo. Here, we use two different approaches to study related enzymes involved in methylglyoxal detoxification. For human DJ-1, we used pink beam mix-and-inject serial crystallography (MISC) at the Advanced Photon Source (BioCARS 14-ID) to probe the controversial mechanism of DJ-1’s action on methylglyoxal by using serial Laue diffraction. The high flux …

Assessing Soil Properties For Optimized Irrigation Development In Sudan, Northern Africa, Suhib Hamid, Derek M. Heeren, Aaron R. Mittelstet, Saleh Taghvaeian, Randall S. Ritzema

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Presentations and White Papers

Sustainable irrigation methods maximize agricultural productivity in Northern African countries like Sudan. This project evaluates soil properties to develop optimized irrigation strategies for Sudan's arid and semi-arid climate. Assessing soil characteristics such as texture, infiltration rates, and nutrient content informs the selection of modern irrigation systems. Data from 3,192 locations, collected using GPS and ring infiltrometers for infiltration rates, alongside laboratory analyses for soil properties, were employed. A ranking system determined suitable irrigation systems for specific soil classes, considering factors like slope, wind, crop tolerance, available water capacity (AWC), drainage, germination, capital cost, labor cost, maintenance, and evapotranspiration (ET). The …

Investigating The Abilities Of Potentially Beneficial Bacteria For Increasing Nitrogen-Use Efficiency In Maize, Lexie R. Foster

School of Biological Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Global agriculture relies heavily on the use of synthetic nitrogen fertilizer to meet the current global food demand. Unfortunately, the average nitrogen-use efficiency (NUE) of maize (Zea mays) is approximately 50 percent. Improving the NUE of maize is essential for meeting the growing global food demand while also decreasing the negative environmental impacts caused by losses of nitrogen fertilizer due to runoff and volatilization. Harnessing the symbiotic relationship between plants and the soil microbiome may be one method for increasing the NUE in crops such as maize. In the present study, a set of potentially beneficial bacterial species …

Heat Stress Changes The Bovine Methylome And Transcriptome And Investigation Of Two Novel Genetic Defects In Cattle, Rachel Renae Reith

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Heat stress is a major concern for livestock producers due to its negative impact on animal health and productivity. Heat stress does so by altering expression of genes through different regulatory mechanisms such as DNA methylation. Understanding how heat stress alters gene expression will help elucidate the genetic basis of physiological changes as well as identify targets for possible heat stress mitigation. The purpose of the first study was to understand how heat stress alters the adipose and skeletal muscle transcriptomes in zilpaterol-fed Brahman, as zilpaterol improves muscle growth and may mitigate the effects of heat stress. Differential expression and …

Torus Surgery, Fibrations, Multisections, And Spun 4-Manifolds, Nicholas Paul Meyer

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

A compact n-manifold X is fibered if it is a fiber bundle where the fiber F and base space B are manifolds. Fibered manifolds are particularly nice, as they are essentially classified by their monodromy maps. Two common examples of 4-dimensional fibered manifolds are surface bundles over surfaces and 3-manifold bundles over the circle.

The main focus of this dissertation is to investigate fibered 4-manifolds whose boundaries are the 3-torus and how these manifolds glue together to give new closed, fibered 4-manifolds. In particular, suppose W is diffeomorphic to S¹ × E_Y (K) where Y …

A Case Study Of Mathematical Instructional Leadership, Theresa Haack

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

This dissertation looks at the impact of instructional leadership in mathematics teaching on teachers at various stages in their careers. Using a case study methodology, the researcher explores the nuanced needs and effective strategies for beginning, mid-career, and established teachers. Peer instructional leaders provided data that involved a mix of qualitative methods, including surveys, interviews, and questionnaires, targeting five assistant principals selected randomly from diverse school environments. The study identifies common themes and differences in instructional approaches, highlighting how strategies vary and overlap across different career stages. Analysis gives insights into the practical application of leadership in educational settings, emphasizing …

Heat Stress Changes The Bovine Methylome And Transcriptome And Investigation Of Two Novel Genetic Defects In Cattle, Rachel Renae Reith

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Heat stress is a major concern for livestock producers due to its negative impact on animal health and productivity. Heat stress does so by altering expression of genes through different regulatory mechanisms such as DNA methylation. Understanding how heat stress alters gene expression will help elucidate the genetic basis of physiological changes as well as identify targets for possible heat stress mitigation. The purpose of the first study was to understand how heat stress alters the adipose and skeletal muscle transcriptomes in zilpaterol-fed Brahman, as zilpaterol improves muscle growth and may mitigate the effects of heat stress. Differential expression and …

A Study Of Electron- And Photon-Induced Dissociative Electron Attachment To Molecules And Within Anion-Molecule Clusters, Mahmudul Hasan

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Dissociative electron attachment (DEA) is a resonant process in which a molecule captures a low-energy electron, forming a transient negative ion (TNI). Subsequently, this unstable TNI fragments into a stable anion and one or more neutral fragments. DEA is crucial in various phenomena, ranging from atmospheric and radiation chemistry to processes occurring in plasmas, and is particularly significant in the context of radiation-induced damage to biological molecules. This study uses different experimental methods to better understand the fragmentation in molecular anions forming through dissociative photoexcitation and electron attachment. We have developed an experimental apparatus for dissociative photoexcitation studies. This apparatus …

Growth And Simulation Of Dielectric-Metal Nanoheterostructured Thin Films By Ballistic Deposition, Shawn Wimer

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

This thesis is divided into two related topics: the structural and chemical characterization of dielectric-metal nanoheterostructured thin films grown by glancing angle deposition (GLAD) and the results of the simulated growth of films and structures by GLAD with discrete-space and continuous-space Monte Carlo ballistic simulation.

Individual structures comprising films grown by GLAD were investigated by S/TEM and SEM imaging, electron diffraction, and chemical characterization and mapping by EDX. Different intermolecular interactions within and between different materials, including Si, Ag, Au, and ZrO₂, are linked to differences in the shapes of individual materials in heterostructures, the shape of heterostructures …

Exploring Gen Z’S Identity Formation And Its Influence On Consumption Of Pop Culture And Entertainment Merchandise, Melisa Annette Spilinek

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Fandoms have grown in size and influence, becoming a complex and dynamic cultural phenomenon that richly impacts the consumption of media and consumer behavior. The capitalistic United States with its diverse and media-savvy population, is a prime destination to study fan studies, particularly among young adults who are a crucial component of fandom influence.

The internet has grown to be a major component of the fan experience, an integral part of fandom culture. Online communities provide avenues for Generation Z to connect with others who share similar struggles, challenges, and interests, highlighting the importance of digital platofrms on the evolution …

French Interwar Popular Romance And Ideals Of Femininity: A Literary And Historical Study Of Magali, Kelly Kamrath

Department of Modern Languages and Literatures: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Against a background of political turmoil, economic crises, and cultural upsets from both within and abroad, France between the two World Wars was home to a flourishing romance novel industry. At first glance lighthearted love stories seem simple and frivolous in comparison to the canonical writings of the time, such as those of Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sartre. However, this literature was far from art for art’s sake. The romance novels of interwar France, written half a century before the scholarship of romance fiction would truly begin, have yet to receive the attention they deserve. During the interwar period, …

Electronic Properties Of Group-Iii Nitride Semiconductors And Device Structures Probed By Thz Optical Hall, Nerijus Armakavicius, Philipp Kühne, Alexis Papamichail, Hengfang Zhang, Sean Knight, Axel Persson, Vallery Stanishev, Jr-Tai Chen, Plamen Paskov, Mathias Schubert, Vanya Darakchieva

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Faculty Publications

Group-III nitrides have transformed solid-state lighting and are strategically positioned to revolutionize high-power and high-frequency electronics. To drive this development forward, a deep understanding of fundamental material properties, such as charge carrier behavior, is essential and can also unveil new and unforeseen applications. This underscores the necessity for novel characterization tools to study group-III nitride materials and devices. The optical Hall effect (OHE) emerges as a contactless method for exploring the transport and electronic properties of semiconductor materials, simultaneously offering insights into their dielectric function. This nondestructive technique employs spectroscopic ellipsometry at long wavelengths in the presence of a magnetic …

Exploring The Associations Of Afterschool Science Participation And Friendships With Science Identities, Patricia Wonch Hill, Grace M. Kelly, Julia Mcquillan, Jorge Ledesma, Miranda Melson, G. Robin Gauthier

Worlds of Connections Resources

Building on previous research that demonstrates the association of youth experiences in afterschool science and higher science identities, this paper presents a network study of 421 middle school students that examines afterschool science participation, friendship ties, and science identities. Participation in afterschool science clubs is associated with higher science identity, but the mechanisms and order of causality are unclear. Youth form friendships inside and outside of school, and peers may influence participation in afterschool activities, as empirical research on friendships shows that they are associated with youth interests. These peer interactions also have the potential to shape identity development during …

Evaluation Of An Autonomous Acoustic Surveying Technique For Grassland Bird Communities In Nebraska, Grace E. Schuster, Leroy J. Walston, Andrew R. Little

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

Monitoring trends in wildlife communities is integral to making informed land management decisions and applying conservation strategies. Birds inhabit most niches in every environment and because of this they are widely accepted as an indicator species for environmental health. Traditionally, point counts are the common method to survey bird populations, however, passive acoustic monitoring approaches using autonomous recording units have been shown to be cost-effective alternatives to point count surveys. Advancements in automatic acoustic classification technologies, such as BirdNET, can aid in these efforts by quickly processing large volumes of acoustic recordings to identify bird species. While the utility of …

Nebraska Farm Real Estate Market Highlights 2023-2024, Jim Jansen, Jeff Stokes

Nebraska Farm Real Estate Reports

For the fifth consecutive year, the all-land average value in Nebraska rose for the year ending February 1, 2024, averaging approximately 5% higher than the prior year. Figure 2 summarizes these figures and trends along with the percent changes over the preceding year’s all-land average for the eight districts in the state.

The statewide all-land average value for the year ending February 1, 2024, averaged $4,015 per acre, or about a 5% ($180 per acre) increase from the prior year’s value of $3,835 per acre. Rates of increase were the highest in the North and Northeast Districts, as these areas …

Perspectives On Computational Modeling Of Biological Systems And The Significance Of The Sysmod Community, Bhanwar Lal Puniya, Meghna Verma, Chiara Damiani, Shaimaa Bakr, Andreas Dräger

Department of Biochemistry: Faculty Publications

Motivation: In recent years, applying computational modeling to systems biology has caused a substantial surge in both discovery and practical applications and a significant shift in our understanding of the complexity inherent in biological systems.

Results: In this perspective article, we briefly overview computational modeling in biology, highlighting recent advancements such as multiscale modeling due to the omics revolution, single-cell technology, and integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning approaches. We also discuss the primary challenges faced: integration, standardization, model complexity, scalability, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Lastly, we highlight the contribution made by the Computational Modeling of Biological Systems …

From Australia To Nebraska: Researching Social Value, Marilyn R. Schlake, Cheryl A. Burkhart-Kriesel, Jean Ann Fischer, Michelle Krehbiel, Randy Saner

Cornhusker Economics

Globally, there is a growing body of research on social capital through the lens of social value, or how the social connections translate into actions with tangible outcomes impacting livelihoods and well-being. In the United States, social value is a relatively new perspective that will add to the social capital discussion.

A Comprehensive Study On The Impact Of Human Hair Fiber And Millet Husk Ash On Concrete Properties: Response Surface Modeling And Optimization, Naraindas Bheel, Muhammad Alamgeer Shams, Samiullah Sohu, Abdul Salam Buller, Taoufik Najeh, Fouad Ismail Ismail, Omrane Benjeddou

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

Revolutionizing construction, the concrete blend seamlessly integrates human hair (HH) fibers and millet husk ash (MHA) as a sustainable alternative. By repurposing human hair for enhanced tensile strength and utilizing millet husk ash to replace sand, these materials not only reduce waste but also create a durable, eco-friendly solution. This groundbreaking methodology not only adheres to established structural criteria but also advances the concepts of the circular economy, representing a significant advancement towards environmentally sustainable and resilient building practices. The main purpose of the research is to investigate the fresh and mechanical characteristics of concrete blended with 10–40% MHA as …

Production Of The Siderophore Lysochelin In Rich Media Through Maltose-Promoted High-Density Growth Of Lysobacter Sp. 3655, Fang Zhang, Jia Liu, Lin Jiang, Yongbiao Zheng, Lingjun Yu, Liangcheng Du

Department of Chemistry: Faculty Publications

Siderophores are produced by bacteria in iron-restricted conditions. However, we found maltose could induce the biosynthesis of the siderophore lysochelin in Lysobacter sp. 3655 in rich media that are not compatible with siderophore production. Maltose markedly promoted cell growth, with over 300% increase in cell density (OD₆₀₀) when LB medium was added with maltose (LBM). While lysochelin was not detectable when OD₆₀₀ in LBM was below 5.0, the siderophore was clearly produced when OD₆₀₀ reached 7.5 and dramatically increased when OD₆₀₀ was 15.0. Coincidently, the transcription of lysochelin biosynthesis genes was remarkably enhanced following the …

Tsunami Exposure And Mental Health Consequences: Protective Role Of Cultural Coping Strategies, Thulitha Wickrama, Michael J. Merten, K. A.S. Wickrama, Amanda Terrell

Department of Child, Youth, and Family Studies: Faculty Publications

There is a knowledge gap regarding the link between disaster exposure and adolescent mental health problems in developing countries. This study examines the case of Sri Lanka to investigate (a) the immediate and long-term mental health impact of the 2004 tsunami disaster on adolescents and (b) the potential moderating effects of unique cultural and family practices that prevail in Sri Lanka. This study used a random sample of 160 adolescents (ages 12–19) and their mothers who were exposed to the tsunami disaster while living in a southern Sri Lankan village and provided prospective data immediately after the disaster (2005) and …

Protein Nanoparticles As Vaccine Platforms For Human And Zoonotic Viruses, Kush Kumar Pandey, Bikash R. Sahoo, Asit K. Pattnaik

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Vaccines are one of the most effective medical interventions, playing a pivotal role in treating infectious diseases. Although traditional vaccines comprise killed, inactivated, or liveattenuated pathogens that have resulted in protective immune responses, the negative consequences of their administration have been well appreciated. Modern vaccines have evolved to contain purified antigenic subunits, epitopes, or antigen-encoding mRNAs, rendering them relatively safe. However, reduced humoral and cellular responses pose major challenges to these subunit vaccines. Protein nanoparticle (PNP)-based vaccines have garnered substantial interest in recent years for their ability to present a repetitive array of antigens for improving immunogenicity and enhancing protective …

Cellmarkerpipe: Cell Marker Identification And Evaluation Pipeline In Single Cell Transcriptomes, Yinglu Jia, Pengchong Ma, Qiuming Yao

School of Computing: Faculty Publications

Assessing marker genes from all cell clusters can be time-consuming and lack systematic strategy. Streamlining this process through a unified computational platform that automates identification and benchmarking will greatly enhance efficiency and ensure a fair evaluation. We therefore developed a novel computational platform, cellMarkerPipe (https:// github. com/ yao- labor atory/ cellM arker Pipe), for automated cell-type specific marker gene identification from scRNA-seq data, coupled with comprehensive evaluation schema. CellMarkerPipe adaptively wraps around a collection of commonly used and state-of-the-art tools, including Seurat, COSG, SC3, SCMarker, COMET, and scGeneFit. From rigorously testing across diverse samples, we ascertain SCMarker’s overall reliable performance …

Sustainable Sensing With Paper Microfluidics: Applications In Health, Environment, And Food Safety, Sanjay Kumar, Jyoti B. Kaushal, Heow Pueh Lee

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

This manuscript offers a concise overview of paper microfluidics, emphasizing its sustainable sensing applications in healthcare, environmental monitoring, and food safety. Researchers have developed innovative sensing platforms for detecting pathogens, pollutants, and contaminants by leveraging the paper’s unique properties, such as biodegradability and affordability. These portable, low-cost sensors facilitate rapid diagnostics and on-site analysis, making them invaluable tools for resource-limited settings. This review discusses the fabrication techniques, principles, and applications of paper microfluidics, showcasing its potential to address pressing challenges and enhance human health and environmental sustainability.

Violent Conflict Drives World Hunger And Food Insecurity, E. Wesley F. Peterson

Cornhusker Economics

The World Food Program (WFP) with support from the United States and other countries works to provide food to those in need as a result of conflict, adverse climate effects, poverty, and government mismanagement. It is limited in what it can do, however, by budget constraints and rising food prices. On top of the financial issues, the delivery of food assistance is particularly complicated in areas of conflict where warring adversaries often hijack food supplies intended for the other side. While it is illegal under International Humanitarian Law to use starvation as a weapon of war, Dzerowicz (2023) has identified …

Topological Regression As An Interpretable And Efficient Tool For Quantitative Structureactivity Relationship Modeling, Ruibo Zhang, Daniel Nolte, Cesar Sanchez-Villalobos, Souparno Ghosh, Ranadip Pal

Department of Statistics: Faculty Publications

Quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR)modeling is a powerful tool for drug discovery, yet the lack of interpretability of commonly used QSAR models hinders their application inmolecular design.We propose a similaritybased regression framework, topological regression (TR), that offers a statistically grounded, computationally fast, and interpretable technique to predict drug responses. We compare the predictive performance of TR on 530 ChEMBL human target activity datasets against the predictive performance of deep-learning-based QSAR models. Our results suggest that our sparse TR model can achieve equal, if not better, performance than the deep learningbased QSAR models and provide better intuitive interpretation by extracting an approximate …

Less Activity Means Improved Welfare? How Pair Housing Influences Pinyon Jay (Gymnorhinus Cyanocephalus) Behaviour, London M. Wolff, Jeffrey R. Stevens

Center for Brain, Biology, and Behavior: Faculty Publications

The activity level and specific behaviours exhibited by captive animals are crucial indicators of welfare. Stereotypies, or repetitive behaviours that have no apparent function or goal, are performed by animals experiencing poor conditions in their environment and indicate welfare concerns. Changes in the housing environment in particular may have critical influences on behaviour and welfare. Here, we measured behavioural changes in a captive pinyon jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus) population (n = 10) associated with a shift from single to pair housing. Using automated video processing, we show that pair housing greatly reduced overall activity levels in these birds. The …